Palace asks MILF to give Marcos' BARMM appointments a chance
Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang has urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to give President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s new appointments to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) a chance.
In a press briefing, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that Marcos has the prerogative to appoint BARMM leaders.
"Ang hiling po sana natin sa pamunuan po ng MILF ay bigyan po muna ng chance. Kapag po hindi naging maayos ang magiging pamumuno po ng bagong na-appoint na Interim Chief Minister, maaari po nating pag-usapang muli ito para po sa ikakaganda ng nasabi poong Bangsamoro, MILF," said Castro.
[Translation: We are asking the MILF leadership to give it a chance. If the leadership of the newly appointed Interim Chief Minister does not go well, we can discuss it again for the betterment of Bangsamoro and the MILF]
Malacañang also maintained that the appointments would not undermine the peace process.
"Hindi naman po, dahil nasa maganda pong pag-uusap iyan. Sabi nga po natin na since may prerogative po ang Pangulo na mag-appoint. Bigyan lang po natin ng chance; kapag po mayroong hindi naging magandang pangyayari, then that’s the time na the President will make an immediate action," Castro added.
[Translation: Not at all, because this is part of a proper discussion. As we said, since the President has the prerogative to appoint, let’s give it a chance. If something unfavorable happens, that’s when the President will take immediate action]
The MILF Central Committee, however, has raised concerns over the appointment of Abdulraof Macacua as the new Interim Chief Minister, citing possible violations of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and questioning the integrity of the transition process.
"Guided by the Consultative Assembly’s inputs and recommendations, the MILF Central Committee learned the agony, growing frustrations, and concerns of the attendees over the recent Presidential appointments in the BTA, which failed to adhere strictly to the officially endorsed list of 41 nominees submitted by the MILF," the committee said in a statement.
